Canadian studying pharmacy in UK

[Torontopharm]

Hello,

I'm new here and i had a few questions about Pharmacy schools in UK. I apologize in advance if the stuff has been discussed already.

I'm a Canadian citizen, currently doing College in Canada (Biotech/Microbiology program) and just finished my 2nd year. Im thinking of going to UK to do the MPharm starting Sept 2011, and by then i'll have 3 years of college done. I'll be graduating from college with an average gpa (3.2/4, which is probably 72-74%). I've also worked in a lab for a year.

Anyway i just wanted to know how competitive is it to get into UK MPharma programs? I'm not all familiar with the British grading system, and i don't know how they'll look at my college stats ? . I know Chemistry is a big requirement, and i've already done 1 year of biochem/organic/inorganic chem/analytical chem etc. in college. My high school average was horrible (65% in chemistry i believe), and i really don't intend on re-taking high school courses again, now that i've done the advanced version of those courses in college .

Any help would be appreciated.

[johnep]

With your background would have a head start on the average UK student. However, why not study in Canada or the US.
This site may help:

Pharmacy - Student Doctor Network Forums

If you do come to the Uk, suggest Robert Gordon in Aberdeen. would seem most like home. Good skiing not too far away.
Long time since I was in Canada at Agincourt and Missiagua?.
johnep

[crit care]

so 65% is horrible....sounds pretty decent to me! i can't see it being a problem with those grades....they'll be after your tuition fees even more!

[Torontopharm]

With your background would have a head start on the average UK student. However, why not study in Canada or the US.
This site may help:

Pharmacy - Student Doctor Network Forums

If you do come to the Uk, suggest Robert Gordon in Aberdeen. woulds seem most like home. Good skiing not too far away.
Long time since I was in Canada at Agincourt and Missiagua?.
johnep

Well i'm from Ontario, Canada and i basically have 2 options..University of Toronto and University of Waterloo. Waterloo will require me to take 2 years of university education just to be "eligible" to apply for the program. University of Toronto is just ridiculously hard to get into. They'll also ask me to do 1 year of university education before applying for the program. Basically, in terms of applying to pharmacy schools in canada, College education really isn't taken seriously. I pretty much have to do 1 or 2 more years of studying just to be on par with the other applicants. I can't apply to any other provinces, because each province specifically prefer students from their own province.

As for U.S.A, i've looked into it and it really just comes down to money. Even a supposedly "low profile" pharmacy college in USA like Touro College of Pharmacy charges $32,000 yearly for US students. Since i'm Canadian, i'll be considered an international student, and the tuition cost for me would be around $50,000 a year (at least).

Therefore, my options are to do my studying abroad. UK seems like a good option for me, considering that i won't have to learn a new language, it's considerably cheaper and i can start the program right away. Since the language wont' be a problem, i wouldn't mind working in UK afterwards either.

I'm from Toronto by the way (30 minutes drive from Missisauga), and I'm a HORRIBLE skiier !!

[Torontopharm]

so 65% is horrible....sounds pretty decent to me! i can't see it being a problem with those grades....they'll be after your tuition fees even more!

Really? Our universities are pretty tough here. If you wanna get into a good university Bsc program, you usually require a 70% in your six grade 12 courses. 65% is frowned upon !!

You think i have a decent shot at a university like Sunderland for example? I was actually looking at Sunderland solely because of it's tuition (around 8000 pounds)! And apparently it's a pretty old university as well (according to wikipedia, at least). Any other univerisites you recommend?

[johnep]

You will have to learn to talk Geordie then.
Apart from cost:
Seaside ----- Brighton (My Canadian relatives had never seen the sea until they came to UK)
Countryside and Town--------Bath
City Life----------------Aston.
At Sunderland you will be in relatively easy reach of Newcastle and Yorkshire. Both frequently extolled on the forum.
Majority of overseas students come from Indian sub continent. Most of them have a local degree and have to take a special course (OSPAP) in order to achieve UK registration.
Good luck in what ever you decide. We do have a few Ice Hockey teams in the UK.
johnep

[crit care]

there aren't that many universities that offer pharmacy. although the number is on the increase!
good place to start is the times university guide. they rank UK universities....maybe email unis and try and get copies of prospectuses to look at. Also depends if you want a campus university, or one spread out over a city...some are based within cities, others just outside cities...

they are also ranked in terms of pharmacy school....last i recall it was the likes of manchester, cardiff and bath which were up towards the top......

[johnep]

I was very disappointed when discovered that Oxford and Cambridge do not offer pharmacy. Both offer medicine.
johnep

[Nik]

We had a handful of Canadian students in our year at Aston, all of whom did really well at the end of the course and secured good pre-reg places. However don't expect acres of greenland and natural scenery - being in the heart of Brum it is in essence city life (but very good city life). Has also upgraded all of its accomodation and built an underground car park.

[johnep]

Just 24 hours since the original post and lots of answers. This is the forum for finding out what you want.
johnep